The Songs of "Bituing Walang Ningning"

This is something I have written a few years ago... Before I begin, let's first describe what a Pinoy musical movie is. In the Philippines we don't have much musical movies in Hollywood standards where songs are written specifically for the characters or events in the film. Mostly pop songs (or adapted pop songs) are incorporated into the film and sang by the characters in dream sequences or at the end of the movie. If the leads are singers, they usually sing in bars, in concerts or during rehearsals. Songs are also used in (several) montages of "kilig" sequences or when the characters sing under the trees to express their devotions to one another.

Unlike any other Pinoy musical movies (or any Sharon Cuneta musical movies for that matter), kakaiba ang Bituing Walang Ningning ni Emmanuel Borlaza. The songs were very much part of the film. They were carefully chosen to tell a story. They expressed the emotions of the characters that they hardly verbalized. Most of them may not be written and produced especially for the film, but they fitted well in detailing the events that (were about to) transpired on screen.

I Just Called to Say I Love You. This Stevie Wonder original is heard several times in the film more than the theme song itself. However, sa tuwing maririnig natin ang awiting ito during the first half of the film, nagbabago ang kanyang kahulugan. Depending on who sings it under what circumstances, nagkakaru'n siya ng ibang purpose.

At the beginning of the film, it serves as a springboard when we hear it being played on the radio. Single ito ni Lavinia Arguelles (Cherie Gil), ang hinahangaang mang-aawit ni Dorina Pineda (Sharon Cuneta). As a devoted fan, Dorina is all ears to it while picking Sampaguita, and singing along with it once in a while. Tangan-tangan niya ang battery-operated radio sa kanyang braso habang hawak-hawak ang maliit na bilao kung saan niya nilalagay ang kinukuha niyang bulaklak gamit ang kanyang kaliwang kamay.

Iyon din ang mismong Sampaguita na kanyang iaalay para sa kanyang iniidolo na siya ring pinagkakakitaan niya upang makabili siya ng mga bagay na may kinalaman kay Lavinia tulad ng magasin.

Sa tagpong ito ay pinapakita na kung gaano ka-committed bilang fan ni Lavinia si Dorina. Sa pagtatrabaho man o pag-aaral, siya lagi ang laman ng kanyang isipan. Siya ang kanyang inspirasyon. Magutom man o malagay sa panganib ang buhay, hindi niya iindahin. Mahal niya siyang tunay.

"Hindi na baleng gumastos ako ng anim na piso dito eh kahit basahin ko man ng paulit-ulit, busog pa ko. Eh 'yang dalanghita na 'yan, kainin ko nga, natunaw naman. De wala rin."

I Can Wait Forever. Sa isa sa kanyang mga show events, ginamit ni Lavinia ang awiting ito (originally sung by Air Supply) upang ipahatid ang kanyang nararamdaman sa kasintahang si Nico Escobar (Christopher de Leon). Ito ang kanyang harana.

Nico is in love with her, and is much willing to marry her anytime. She, too, wants to marry him. But marriage has to wait. Marami pa siyang gustong ma-attain sa kanyang career. She still has to make sure that the pedestal she is standing on will remain hers forever.

So saying that she can wait forever demands something from Nico. She can wait forever, so long as he can wait for her, as well, not minding taking the backseat every now and then. She is career-oriented, and marriage is not a priority.

I Just Called to Say I Love You. Matapos haranahin ni Lavinia si Nico, ang kanyang adoring fans naman ang kanyang inaawitan via the promotion of her single. Away from the cheering crowd, she is a star. Keeping her distance from the roaring audience, she is a queen.

However, Dorina is different. Hindi siya paaawat sa pagpapakita ng kanyang pagmamahal kay Lavinia. She seizes the opportunity whenever she sees one. Nasaan man si Lavinia, andu'n siya upang suportahan ito. Wala siyang konsepto ng ka-cheapan o kahihiyan, so long as maipahayag niya ang kanyang affection para sa kanyang idolo.

Again, like her song to Nico, iba rin ang tunay na pinakakahulugan ni Lavinia sa awitin niyang ito para sa kanyang fans. Mahal niya sila so long as they know how to keep their distance from her. Mahal niya sila so long as alam nila kung saan sila lulugar sa kanyang buhay. Siya ang nag-iisang bituin sa langit. Sila ang mga taong nakamasid lamang sa kanyang ningning mula sa ibaba. Hinding-hindi sila dapat makakatagpo.

How Can I Tell You It's Over. Lavinia and the record studio people listen to her newly-recorded song (composed by Willy Cruz and Diane Siscar). It isn't as prominent as the other songs in the film for it is played softly in the background. Ganu'n pa man, ang nilalaman ng awitin ay nagbabadya on what's about to happen to the current lovers on screen.

Mabubunyag na ang tunay na hangarin nila sa buhay na hindi sang-ayon sa mga gusto nilang mangyari para sa isa't-isa. Nico wants marriage; Lavinia wants more fame.

Lavinia: Kung pakakasal ako sa 'yo, Nico, dalawang kundisyon. Una, hindi ako titigil sa pag-awit. Hindi kita maaasikaso. Ako ang aasikasuhin mo. Pangalawa, hindi tayo mag-aanak.

Ayokong magkaanak. Ayokong may magmana sa akin. Ayoko may makatulad, kahit pa anak ko.

With that, even before they knew it, their relationship falls apart. No matter how they try to salvage it, it won't work.
Matud Nila. Dorina part-times as a singer during wakes. In here she sings a Ben Zubiri-penned Cebuano song that speaks about undying love and aspiration for someone despite what others might say. Hindi na baleng magmukhang tanga at katawa-tawa, her feelings will remain the same.

The song could be an ode to the departed one. It could also be Dorina's promise to Lavinia, that she will remain loyal to her despite what others think of her.

However, later on, Dorina would have to give up fame and fortune for someone better. Anuman ang sabihin at isipin ng iba, pipiliin niya ang mas mahalaga para sa kanya.

Subalit sa naturang wika rin ng iba matatagpuan ni Dorina ang kanyang tinig. Si Augusta Victa (nasa litrato) ay isang club manager na nagustuhan ang tinig niya, at kinuha siya bilang singer ng club nila.

Ocean Deep. A Cliff Richard original, Dorina sings the song for the first time as a club singer. The lines "Can't you give this fool a chance" very much speaks of what she feels as a first time singer. Masaya siya sa tiwalang ibinigay ng club manager sa kanya subalit hindi lubusan ang tiwala niya sa kanyang sarili. With that, katakot-takot na pasasalamat ang kanyang pinaabot sa mga taong sumusuporta sa kanya. Bati rito, bati roon. Kaway riyan, kaway roon.

Dito pa lang ay makikikita na ang pagkakaiba ni Dorina kay Lavinia sa pakikitungo sa tao. Lavinia exudes confidence, but is stand-offish; Dorina is amateur, yet very warm.




Total Eclipse of the Heart. Ito ang awiting babago sa buhay ni Dorina. The song that will give her a 180 degrees turn. The moment Nico hears her, he knows that Lavinia has found her match. If Lavinia realizes that, he thinks, she may want to step down on her throne and becomes his wife.

Pero sa larong kani-kanilang tatahakin, hindi lang karera ang iikot kundi ang kani-kanilang mga puso.




Dorina begins her journey as a professional singer. When Larry Calma (Tommy Abuel) refuses to take Dorina under his wing, Nico becomes more determined to build her up. He trains her further in a bigger club. Soon enough, he puts up his own recording studio with friend Zosimo Blanco (Jay Ilagan) and manages her career.




Bituing Walang Ningning. This is the first time we get to hear the song written by Willy Cruz for the film. (In the movie it is Garry Diaz--Joel Torre, who supposedly penned the song for Dorina.) Wala pa siyang masyadong kahulugan sa mga karakter ng pelikula sa tagpong ito other than to introduce Dorina to the public formally as a singer.

On the side is Lavinia, wearing shades to disguise herself. Bumaba siya sa lupa upang kilalanin ang taong tinatapat sa kanya.




Nico tells Dorina his intention. He wants her to bring Lavinia down. Kung wala nang ningning ang bituin nito, wala itong ibang mapupuntuhan kundi siya. Gusto niyang siya ang maging mundo ni Lavinia, at hindi ang kinang ng entabladong sumilaw sa kanya.

Dorina is doubtful, but she agrees. She has feelings for him, but she has to let them go. Malaki ang utang na loob niya kay Nico. Pasasaanba't magkakaroon din ng tagumpay ang kanyang magiging pagsasakripisyo.

Sana'y Maghintay Ang Walang Hanggan. Garry plays the intruments in the piano. Dorina listens. Malungkot ang kanta. May longing na pinadarama. Garry wrote it for Dorina. Only that she is too focused on Nico to realize that.




I Just Called to Say I Love You. Dorina is finally launched as a singer. She sings the song her idol is known for as a homage for her. Noon ay sinasabayan niya lamang ang kantang iyon, subalit sa pagkakataong ito, kinakanta na niya ito para sa kanyang idolo.

Hindi ito nagustuhan ni Lavinia. Hinamak niya si Dorina at sinabing isa lamang siya pipitsuging manggagaya. Hindi pa isinisilang ang taong papalit sa kanyang kinalalagyan sa itaas.

It's My Turn (Diana Ross). Natanggal na ang piring ng mga mata ni Dorina. She now sees Lavinia for what she truly is--mayabang, mapangmata, mataas ang tingin sa sarili. Kung dati-rati'y hindi siya sang-ayon sa nais ni Nico, ngayon ay gagawin na niya ang pagbagsak kay Lavinia para sa kanyang sarili. Hinamak nito ang kanyang pagkatao at nararapat lamang na patunayan niya ang kanyang galing sa mga tulad nitong hindi naniniwala sa kanya.

Siya naman ngayon ang sisikat. Siya ang titingalain. Siya ang hahangaan. Siya ang magpapabagksak kay Lavinia Arguelles, ang kanyang dating idolo.




The Glamorous Life (Sheila E.). The moment Dorina decides on what to do with her life, fame and fortune come next--recordings, TV guestings, autograph signing, etc. Siya na mismo ang nagpaikot ng buhay niya na naaayon sa gusto niya mangyari, at hindi dahil lamang sa idinidikta ng iba sa kanya.

She wants to lead a glamorous life.
She won't need a man's touch...

Hindi pa sumusuko si Lavinia. She still has tricks up her sleeves. Kung si Nico ang naging dahilan sa tagumpay na tinatamasa ni Dorina, si Nico rin ang magiging daan upang mapabagsak niya ito.

Ngunit katulad ni Dorina, nagbago na rin ang priority ni Nico. Hindi na si Lavinia ang center ng kanyang mundo.

Sana'y Maghintay Ang Walang Hanggan. Garry already wrote the words to the song. He plays it for Dorina. She sings it for Nico. Nico is clueless about it. He gets jealous and gives up. Pinaubaya niya si Dorina kay Garry dahil alam niyang di kakayanin ni Dorina ang i-give up ang tinatamasa nitong tagumpay para sa kanya in case he pursues her further. He wants a wife, not a star.

Nico: Garry, alagaan mong mabuti si Dorina. She's a nice girl. She deserves the best.

Nico, on the other hand, is told by people around him that Dorina has feelings for him. He is still hesitant about it until Dorina herself confesses. Nonetheless, he is adamant. He can't compete with fame. He has to have Dorina all for himself. He asks her to give it all up and marry him.




Dorina gets confused. She has to make a choice--love or career. She can't have both. One has to go for the other one to stay. Nasa kanya kung ano ang mas matimbang sa kanyang puso.

Sana'y Maghintay Ang Walang Hanggan. On her big night with Lavinia, Dorina makes a plea to two of the most important things in her life--love and career. She tells them to be patient with her, to wait for her. And whatever she decides, sana'y maunawaan siya ng bawat isa sa kanila.

At this point may desisyon mang nabubuo na sa kanyang isipan ay mayro'n pa rin siyang halong pagdududa. Wala ba talagang pagkakataong pagsabayin ang pag-ibig at karera gayong tunay naman niyang minamahal ang bawat isa? Can't there be a compromise? At kung sakali bang mamili siya ng isa, makapaghihintay ba ang naiwan sa kanyang pagbabalik?

Sana'y maghintay ang walang hanggan
Sana ang iyong paglingap ay muli kong matikman...

She is at a crossroads. It feels to her as if there is no turning back once she makes a decision. Hindi na maaaring balikan pa ang isa. She has to make a commitment.

Subalit kung paglimot ay di mapigilan
Alalahanin mong kay tagal kitang hinintay...

Bituing Walang Ningning. The film's final song. The film's conclusion.

Dorina makes a choice. She chooses Nico over her career. She would rather have love and be happy than have fame and fortune and not have a peace of mind. Mas nanaisin niya ang pag-aaruga ni Nico kaysa ang maging mag-isa sa ilalim kinang ng entablado.

She makes peace with Lavinia who certainly made a choice, as well--her career. She will remain her inspiration, her idol. But this time, hindi na iinog ang kanyang mundo kay Lavinia. Mayroon na siyang pagbabalingan ng pansin na mas mahalaga pa sa isang iniidolo--si Nico, ang kanyang minamahal.

Mabuti pa kaya'y maging bituing walang ningning
Kung kapalit nito'y walang paglaho mong pagtingin...